The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-10-06

at once.
Kampei was overjoyed on reaching
home to find his parents well and happy,
their only trouble since mis- departure hav-
ing been that caused by the avarice of
their landlord. He was panied to hear
of O-Suba's unfeeling words on the occa-
sion of his mothers visit to the cottage,
and the old lady's story made it evident
that thr subsequent sending of the money
was chiefly dne to Niya's intercession.
Then it occurred to him that the girls
present position might be owing to q
! quarrel with her relative on this very sub
jrct, and the idea made him remorseful.
Finally he was informed that, despite her
engagement to him, O-Suba had during
his absence found another lover, a Eu-
rOpean trader at one of the ports, with
hair and beard golden as the t, esses Of
the sun goddess, and that there were
rumors of their approaching marriage.
His thoughts turned to poor Nivs, neg
lected by her relatives, insulted by him,
and left to battle alone with world
that is 80 cruel to the weak.
Kampei long lay awake that night, and
the result OF his meditations was made
known to his parents when he sprang
from his mat soon after daybreak. The
old couple approved of his proposals, and
went to the veranda to say farewell, and
to watch him fondly as he walked with a
light step towards the highway, tying un-
der his chin as he went his cOnical broad
brimmed straw hat. Before he had gone
far his father called him back. "Take
my purse, son." he said "chava keepers
are very hard to deal with unless they see
fhe money bag in your hand. You will
ind in this the gold pieces you brought
home yesterday"
The sun was still high in the heavens
when kampei stopped at the "Chaya of
the Verdant Cherry Blossom" and, after
exchanging salutation- with the proprie-
tor, begged to see the girl Niya. She
was brought into his presence, looking
pale and alarmed, and casting timid
glances at the young man from under her
long lashes Her hands played nervously
with her robe and she looked about anx-
iously for place as far as possible from
Kampei.
"Niya," he said, 81 am not angry with
you, but | want to know why you left
home"
"A ioiuC u was ucT Onty Eepiy.
Had any connection with it-I, KAN
pei -
The girl wrung her hands and turned
her face away, looking distressed, with
out, however, uttering a word.
Would you like to come home again,
little Niya?' he went on iu an encourag-
ing voice.
Yah, yah you are too fast, young
sir :" broke in the master, who WAS sit
ting on the veranda smoking, and listen
ing to Kampei. You are too fast. She
is mine for two years. have the agree
ment signed BY herself, with her receipt
for the money"
Money y cried Kampei. "She has
sold herself, then. But" he continued
more calmly. 81 am willing to pay you
back again. See," and saying this he
drew out his purse, showing to the mas
ter of the house a number Of gold coins
81 How much was it, l pray you, good
sir 2"
Eighty riyos," the host replied.
Eighty riyos," echoed Kampei, light
dawning upon him.
Why" the host went on angrily,
that is the very purse in which l gave
the girl the money, and yet you pretend
not to know that she is bound 10 me
What is the meaning of this deceit ?'
kampei recoiled. All was now plain
to him. To save bis parents from ruin,
his father probably from death, this poor
girl, tenderly reared, sold herself into vir-
ual slavery, where exhausting labor, i'll
treatment, even stripes, would be her
lot And he had almost allowed her to
drown herself when driven mad by his
taunts! Poor Niya! And she did this
for-was it for his parents or for him
The question made him thoughtful.
Meanwhile Niya, her forehead pressed
against the partition, sobbed. The mo-
ment she longed for had arrived. Ksm-
pei now knew why she was there, knew
that it was tor his sake she left her dear
village. Yet she was frightened. What
business had she to interfere in the affairs
of grown people? What did she know of
the great world that she should face it so
lightly? Above everything there was
Kampei only few feet from her, looking
at her most intensely y-she knew it with
cut turning around; she felt bis gaze
pierce her-there was Kampei and what
should she do?
Kampei rose, moved to Niya's side and
whispered "Was it for my sake you did
this, Niya?"
"Why should l do it for you ?" she
replied, evasively.
"Niya," he said, looking sharply at her,
" am no longer affianoed to O-Suba she
loves fair haired foreigner, and il about
to marry him."
She turned quickly, her checks glow
ing, her eyes sparkling through tears like
the sun throug gh mist, and in the happy
smile that lit up her face Kampci read her
secret.
"Then you love me?" he Dried. and
Niya's smile and blush said Yes"
You did not consult the girls rela-
tives," said the young man. turning to
the host.
"She told me she had none," stam-
mered the other, alarmed for the legality
of his agreement.
"Destroy the indenture, and receive
back your money, good sir. beg" said
Kampei.
The tea house keeper agreed, and
while the two men drank a cup together
he confided to Kampei that he was not
sorry to cancel the bargain, as the girl did
not suit. "She moped too much," he
said she had some hidden grief-the
cause of which," he added, with smile.
81 can now divine"
O-Suba and her husband left Morioka,